Twenty minutes up the road, stop for a look at Simon Rodio's masterpiece, the Watts Towers. (For more of LA's artistic heritage, the modernist landmark Eames House is just east of the Getty Villa – "G" on the map.)

You might've seen the Getty Center before, but what about the Getty Villa? Overlooking the Pacific, it houses Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities in the only rebuilt ancient Roman villa in the world. (Just make sure to snag a parking pass: getty.edu/visit.)

Decision time: head up to Topanga ("E") for laid-back hiking, shopping and dining options a short detour off Highway 1... or circle back to see the Eames House ("G") and Getty Center ("H"), 15 and 30 minutes east of the Getty Villa.